Hey guys sorry it's taken me so long to report back. As Sam mentioned I'm a gypsy in a motorhome in search of wireless. Well what can I say.... UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!
The most exciting sporting event I've watched since the old "Nutri-Grain" or "Uncle Toby's Ironman Series". I don't know where to start and it's currently 11pm here and I've had a long day at Legoland so I'll give you a brief report and what you've all been waiting for....PICS !!!!
The weekend started off with the Open Age Race. An estimated 350 paddlers started the race in waves. First the Mens Unlimited & 14', then 30 secs later the Stock 12'6". Then 30 secs later all the women. Beach start into a 2ft shore dump.
You've probably seen the results already. Danny got 7th in the Over 40's (23rd overall out of 297 finishers) and I was 2nd in the Over 40's and 4th overall in women (95th out of 297 finishers). Amazing race but enough about us old *arts...
The ELITE race was a spectacular. The south swell came in and last night I spoke to the Head Lifeguard of Doheny and he said it rarely breaks the way it did for this race. I think competitors had to negotiate 36 turns and had to come in and out of three different breaks.
All the Aussies had an amazing race. Jaimi and Billy were up there for most of the race but the lead changed several times when competitors were "taken out" by either a set or someone else.
Shakira Westdorp was outstanding not only smashing the womens race but coming in 24th overall out of 94 starters of both sexes.
Sean Campbell came in 56th and Jocelyn Kempe 14th in the womens.
The relay race on day 2 was a real spectacular and the Aussies went off !! Billy started the race leading around the bouys and then Danny Ching (Team Ohana) past him on a wave in. Ohana's 2nd paddler was there girl (all teams had to have 1 girl) and the poor girls was up against none other than Jaimi Mitchell. And once he past her and got an impressive lead we lead the rest of the race with Shakira 3rd paddler and Danny the anchor man. Competitors did 2 laps each and the change over area was chaos !!
I just want to finish off by saying that I met some amazing people on the weekend but I mostly enjoyed getting to know the Aussie padders better. Jaimi, Billy, Shakira, Sean, Jocelyn and Mike are some of the most humble, helpful and welcoming paddlers I been around for quite a while. And they made the weekend all that more enjoyable.
Anyway here's the pics you've all been waiting for. These are just some random one's I selected. I took over 400 and have saved the best ones for Casso and his magazine in exchange for some surfing lessons !!! And if I write him a full report of the whole weekends races he may even come up to my beach break and do it !!!
If anyone write and asks me anything, I will get back to you the next time I can hack again) Enjoy...
Before the Open Age Race (The orange Ron House in the front is the board I ended up using)
(Start of Unlimited Race)
(Start of the Mens Stock Race...Danny leading to the first bouy at top right of field with black shirt)
(Getting Ready for the ELITE race)
(Elite Mens Start)
(The Hammer .... and that it was !!! )
(Shakira Westdorp)
(Jaimi Mitchell)
(Excuse Me...coming through !!)
James "Billy" Watson with Danny as handler)
(Winners with Coach & Board Shaper Mick DiBetta)
(Elite Photo Op..)
(Jerry Lopez, Jaimi Mitchell, Slater Trout 2nd, Danny Ching 3rd)
(Chuck 5th before distance with Rob 2nd)
(Day 2 Distance Race time)
(Ernie "EJ" Johnson with his winning 12'6" Starboard)
(Start of Distance Race)
(Rob 2nd Ohana, Chuck 4th Hobie, Danny 1st Ohana & Thomas 2nd Ohana)
(Me congratulating EJ)
(Start of Teams Relay)
(The Aussie winners..Danny Sheard, Shakira Westdorp, Jaimi Mitchell & Billy Watson with organiser Barrett Tester)
